An 'Ocean' Of Loss, Through A Poet's Prism
There was once a cultural moment — though not one that is easy to remember — when only a select few writers got the privilege of publishing a memoir with a big house. Those writers had to either a) be famous, b) have such a compelling story that it screamed to be told, or c) be a fantastic enough stylist to gloss over the lulls and ebbs of a sometimes banal life.
These days, memoirs are being snatched up by the dozens for publication, and many of their authors have none of these qualifications. Sure, celebrities are still confessing their sins on the page (see the current best-seller lists) and the genre has produced blockbusters (some later found to be based on lies), but for the most part memoir has become a literary punch line.
And yet, even now, there are the memoirs that break through. Writing out one's experiences is still a powerful form of catharsis, and when the author has been through enough to have learned some big lessons and has the chops to express them well, the result can be exhilarating. Such is the case with acclaimed poet Kelle Groom's new memoir, I Wore the Ocean in the Shape of A Girl .
Groom has crammed so much pain into one lifetime that it is almost hard to believe: An alcoholic at 15 and pregnant at 19, she, on her family's urging, gave up her infant to an aunt and uncle to raise. That child, Tommy, surrendered to leukemia before the age of 2, and Groom's family kept the details of his illness from her, choosing to let her grow up with a hazy vision of how her baby lived and ultimately died. In the years that follow, Groom was abducted and raped after a night of heavy drinking, the second time in her life she had come under assault (she was attacked at knifepoint as a teen). She fell in and out of rehab for drinking and self-mutilation, got engaged and then broke it off, preferring several short love affairs and random sexual encounters. She moved from place to place in search of sobriety, safety and solace. And she was saved, at least in part, by writing poetry — and by digging deep into medical archives to understand her son's prognosis.
, you'll wish that more poets would write their lives in prose — Groom's voice feels vital and awake, uncompromising and refreshingly spare.Groom beautifully summons the smallest moments from her memory. When a boyfriend once hugged her after learning about her son, she writes, "that holding on stays with me, like the painted works of mercy." Remembering the last time she embraced Tommy, she writes, "His head is barely resting on my white cardigan, almost as if he's levitating. But he's at ease with me, nearly asleep in the red flowers.
Red Circle On Skin - News
The pain is surprising; my skin about to rip open from my baby's head pushing out. The threshold keeps being raised. I scream again when I tear. And my son is in the world. I thought he would be red with blood or white or wrinkled.
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What is acne vulgaris? | Acne Treatment Reviewer
Acne vulgaris is the most common variant of acne and is the most common skin disease in the world. Acne – the word is taken from Ancient Greek means point of facial eruption and vulgaris simply means common in Latin.
Acne vulgaris has a number of symptoms, and ranges from a mild skin ailment to a serious medical condition. It is caused by excessive sebum or oil that is produced by your sebaceous glands and is triggered by hormonal changes and imbalances such as puberty, or even stress.
The sebaceous glands are found all over your body, apart from the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, so you can get acne anywhere. However acne usually affects the areas with the highest concentration of glands and in most cases is confined to the face, back and chest.
Acne Vulgaris conditionsYou can expect to suffer from all or just a few of the following conditions if you have acne vulgaris.
ComedonesComedones are very common and come as either blackheads or whiteheads.
Whiteheads are caused when a pore is blocked by dead skin cells and sebum and bacteria are trapped under the surface of the skin.
Blackheads are caused by the partial blocking of the pore which allows some oil, bacteria and dead cells to reach the surface of the skin. The black colour is not dirt – as used to be mistakenly believed, but the reaction of the air on the skins pigment.
PapulesPapules are small red bumps that resemble hard spots but have no head.
PustulesPustules are pimples that contain pus. These appear as a red circle and have a head filled with pus. The classic zit! Red flaking skin patches, also called seborrhoea is another common effect.
Serious acne – Nodulocystic acneNodulocystic acne, sometimes called cystic acne , is the most serious type of acne vulgaris and is characterised by the presence of cysts and nodules.
Nodules are large papules that appear on the skin as hard red bumps. They can last for months and are often very painful. They often reoccur time and again in the same place and can cause permanent scarring.
Cysts are large pustules that measure over 5cm diameter. These resemble the nodules but are filled with pus and bacteria and often require medical intervention.
Treating Acne VulgarisThe way that you treat acne vulgaris will depend upon the severity of your condition. Mild and moderate acne can be treated successfully with a good over the counter acne treatment and in many cases, lifestyle changes and herbal supplements will also have a positive effect. Nodulocystic acne will probably need medical treatment so your first step should be a visit to your doctor.
Red Circle On Skin - Bookshelf
New Medicine, Complete Family Health Guide
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Red Circle Skin - HealthCentral
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Circle Of Red Skin - HealthCentral
Everything you need to know about circle of red skin, including the most common causes and treatments.
Acne and Skin Disorders Forum - Dry red circles on skin
Dry red circles on skin . i have dry red circles on my face, neck , back and thighs. It looks like ringworm. ive had it for more than a week. ...
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Itchy Skin Red Circles - a comprehensive view - Wellsphere
Expert articles, personal stories, blogs, Q&A, news, local resources, pictures, video and a supportive community. Itchy Skin Red Circles - Health Knowledge Made Personal.